Clasp for strung beads



Dec. 21, 1965 OGDEN CLASP FOR STRUNG BEADS Filed Aug. 13, 1963 INVENTOR. LE/LA HARP/5 OGDEN ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,224,060 CLASP FOR STRUNG BEADS Leila Harris Ogden, 3980 Randall Mill Road NW., Atlanta, Ga. Filed Aug. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 301,794 2 Claims. (Cl. 24--116) This invention relates to jewelry, and is especially concerned with a unique accessory for strung beads.

It is an important object of the persent invention to provide an article of jewelry of the type described, which is capable of being decorated to present a wide variety of different ornamental appearances, and which is extremely versatile in use, being adapted for employment in conjunction with strung beads in many different arrangements.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry accessory having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, adapted for quick and easy usage with only average skill, and which can be efiiciently manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing an article of jewelry constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end View of the article of FIGURE 1, showing an elemnt thereof in an alternate position in dotand-dash outline.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the article of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view showing the article of FIGURES 1-3 employed as a clasp in conjunction with a single strand of pearls.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view showing the instant article employed as a clasp in conjunction with two separate strands of pearls.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view showing a pair of articles in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, employed in combining two shorter necklaces into a single long necklace.

FIGURE 7 is an article of the present invention used as a scarf tie.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view showing the instant article employed as a shortener for a string of pearls.

FIGURE 9 is an article of the present invention employed to convert a choker into a bracelet,

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, the jewelry article or accessory is there generally designated 20 and includes a tubular or generally cylindrical, open-ended member 21, which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as precious metal, or otherwise. The open-ended tubular member 21 is formed with a pair of slots 22 of helical or spiral configuration, each extending inward through a respective end of the tubular member, as at slot-end openings 23. It will be noted that the slot-end openings 23 of the slots 22 are located in substantially aligned relation longitudinally of the member 21.

From the insertion-end openings 23, the slots 22 extend inward helically about the tubular member 21 in the same angular direction and at the same rate or pitch, respectively terminating at slot ends 24 medially of the tubular member. The slot ends 24 may be defined by longitudinally extending end portions 25, each disposed across a respective slot 22 and located in substantial alignment with each other and with the outer slot-end openings 23, longitudinally of the tubular member. Beyond the end portions 25, the tubular member 21 may be formed with a tapering or convergent slot 26 located and arranged as a merged extension of the slots 22.

The slots 22 may be of generally equal width, which is substantially constant throughout their length. Further, the width of slots 22 and pitch thereof is advantageously such as to leave a substantial external surface area of the tubular member 21 for ornamentation thereof, as by jewels, or otherwise. Also, the pitch and width of slots 22, relative to the overall length of tubular member 21 is such that the slots each extend about the tubular member approximately two times. If desired, the end edges of the tubular member 21 may be of spiral or helical configuration similar to that of the slots 22, each end edge 27 being smoothly continuous with one edge of the adjacent slot 22.

Generally diametrically opposite to each slot-end opening 23, there is pivotally mounted one end of a closure arm 30. More specifically, each closure arm 30 has one end mounted by a journal bearing 31 generally diametrically opposite to a respective slot end 23. The closure arms 30 are thus swingable about generally aligned axes longitudinally of the tubular member 21, each being swingable into and out of the adjacent slot end 23. Each slot end 23 may be notched to frictionally and resiliently hold its adjacent closure arm 30 in closing relation within the respective slot, while permitting opening removal of the arms, when desired. Of course, other suitable closurearm holding means may be provided. Also, the free or swinging end of each closure arm 30 may be provided with an enlargement or head 32, to facilitate manipulation thereof.

In use, the accessory 20 is employed in conjunction with a strand of beads, such as open-strung pearls, or other beads. In a great many varieties of arrangements, one or more strings of beads may be inserted longitudinally through the open-ended tubular member 21 and/ or transversely through the slots 22 to achieve many different results and effects.

By way of example, in FIGURE 4 an article 20 is employed in conjunction with a pair of pearl-strand ends 35, which may be the ends of a single strand, as a clasp therefor. In particular, each strand end portion 35 includes a plurality of beads or pearls 36 strung on a cord 37, the beads being located in spaced relation along the cord. Thus, the strand portions 35 may be inserted into the slots 22, through the slot ends 23 when the closures 30 are open, such that inter-bead portions of the cords 37 are received by and extend transversely through the slots 22, the adjacent beads engaging the tubular member 21 to prevent longitudinal shifting of the strands. Of course, the strands are effectively retained in their inserted relation by closing the arms 30, and may be quickly and easily removed upon opening the arms 30 by sliding withdrawal from the slots.

FIGURE 5 represents another arrangement, showing an article 20 employed as a clasp in association with two separate strands of beads, such that a pair of strand end portions 35, and an additional pair of strand end portions 40 are connected to and clasped together by the article 20.

In FIGURE 6, a pair of jewelry accessory articles 20 are utilized to provide a relatively long necklace from a pair of shorter necklaces. Thus, one necklace may have a pair of strand end portions 41 each connected to a respective accessory 20, and an additional necklace may have its strand end portions 42 also connected to the articles 20, respectively.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an article 20 of the instant invention employed as a scarf tie, with end portions 43 of a necklace both drawn longitudinally through the openended tubular member 21.

Also, the jewelry accessory 20 may be employed as a shortener for a strand of pearls, as in FIGURE 8, spaced strand portions 44 being connected to the accessory 20, as by insertion through the slots 22, to effectively shorten the length of a necklace, or the like.

A further utilization is shown in FIGURE 9, where an accessory 20 is connected to strand end portions 46, as by insertion through the slots 22 for converting a singlestrand choker into a double-strand bracelet.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that the instant invention provides a jewelry accessory which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use. It is also apparent that the jewelry accessory of the present invention may be quickly transformed between any of its greater variety of uses, need not be permanently attached to a strand of beads but may be worn with ones entire wardrobe of beads, and can be suitably ornamented as desired.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of jewelry for use as a clasp with strung beads, said clasp comprising a tubular member, said member having a pair of slots extending spirally inward from opposite ends, for removable insertion therein of interbead portions of cord on which the beads are strung, and pivoted closure means at opposite ends of said tubular member for opening and closing respective slots to removably secure strung beads inserted in said slots, said closuremeans comprising a pair of arms each pivotally connected to a respective end of said tubular member at a point angularly spaced from the adjacent slot end and swingable into and out of the adjacent slot end to close and open the latter.

2. An article of jewelry for use with strung beads, comprising an open-ended tubular member, said member being provided with a pair of helical slots each extending inward from a respective end of said tubular member circumferentially thereabout and terminatingshort of each other medially of said tubular member, said slots being of substantially equal pitch and extending inward in the same angular direction for substantial symmetry about the longitudinal mid-point of said tubular member, said slots being of sufficient width for free insertion therein of only interbead portions of cord on which the beads are strung, pivoted closure means at opposite ends of said tubular member for opening and closing respective slots to removably secure strung beads inserted in said slots, said closure means comprising a pair of arms each pivotally connected to a respective end of said tubular member at a point angularly spaced from the adjacent slot-end and swingable into and out of the adjacent slot-end to close and open the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,141 2/1886 Mitchell. 1,281,958 10/1918 Higgins 2413l 1,704,919 3/1929 Murray 633 X 1,724,835 8/1929 Goodridge 24-1161 2,033,943 3/1936 ,Lely 63-1 X FOREIGN PATENTS 131,871 5/ 1929 Switzerland,

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. B. SHAY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF JEWELRY FOR USE AS A CLASP WITH STRUNG BEADS, SAID CLASP COMPRISING A TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SLOTS EXTENDING SPIRALLY INWARD FROM OPPOSITE ENDS, FOR REMOVABLE INSERTION THEREIN OF INTERBEAD PORTIONS OF CORD ON WHICH THE BEADS ARE STRUNG, AND PIVOTED CLOSURE MEANS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER FOR OPENING AND CLOSING RESPECTIVE SLOTS TO REMOVABLY SECURE STRUNG BEADS INSERTED IN SAID SLOTS, SAID CLOSURE MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ARMS EACH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AT A POINT ANGULARLY SPACED FROM THE ADJACENT SLOT END AND SWINGABLE INTO AND OUT OF THE ADJACENT SLOT ENDING TO CLOSE AND OPEN THE LATTER. 